US welcomes opposition`s decision to attend Geneva II

US greets the Syrian coalition’s decision to participate in the Geneva II conference, State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki says

America-Canada

13 Kasım 2013 Çarşamba 12:20

The United States welcomed the Syrian opposition`s decision to join peace talks in Geneva.

"We welcome the Syrian Coalition’s decision to participate in the Geneva II conference", State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said in a written statement on Tuesday, describing the decision as "a significant step forward".

Psaki also welcomed the involvement of the Kurdish National Coalition within the Syrian coalition, stating that the coalition became "more inclusive of Syria’s diversity" with this inclusion.

"Participation by a representative body of the moderate opposition at a Geneva conference, political and armed, is not only essential to moving toward a political transition, but to the future of all Syrians", said Psaki, emphasizing that negotiations in Geneva represent the best opportunity to end the bloodshed.

Psaki also touched on the demands expressed by the Syrian opposition regarding the future of Assad, the release of prisoners and the humanitarian access to besieged areas.

Psaki said, "The United States echoes the calls by humanitarian organizations for the Syrian government and other parties to the conflict to facilitate humanitarian access to all those in need."

"We also call for the release of all arbitrarily detained prisoners, particularly women and children. We will continue to work closely with our international partners, including the Russians, to make progress on these humanitarian issues", Psaki added.